Gary's great ride on earth has ended and he will live forever in spirit and in our hearts. He left us peacefully last night, surrounded by his large and loving family -- his parents Bob and Helen; his big sister Susie and her daughter Jeannette; big brother Mark and his wife Martie; brother David and his wife Becky; his sister Kathy; and our sister in spirit, bro Jeff's wife Karen.
We ask that instead of flowers other gifts please consider making a contribution in Gary's name to the Rob Smith Recovery fund. Like Gary, Rob suffered a traumatic head injury while training for the Baja 1000 in November 2007. Rob survived and is recovering in San Diego. Rob is Jennette's (Gary's niece) fiance. Please read about Rob and Jeannette here http://rsrecovery.blogspot.com/.
We will celebrate Gary's life on the afternoon and evening of Saturday, August 23 at our home on Bainbridge Island. Watch the blog for additional details a little later today as we firm up plans. Plan to join us.
Thank you again for all the love and support.
3 comments:
Gary
How many unremarkable brews were transformed into double-stout malt liquor simply when opened in your company? Your wit and humor added KICK to everything. By example, you were a reminder of the joy in life, and still are. What an inspiration your life force was to us. How I wish I could light smile after smile, and booming laughter as you did. Even now, laughter is conjured from memory. You leave me with a pound of chuckles, which I will carry with me until we meet again; and I am in your debt. You were a bright ray of joyous light and we adhored you. I have no doubt that you will be received as a valued addition to the ethereal realm, and you will be in very good company there, as we were once with you.
Well done, Gary. Well done, and Godspeed.
Morissa..
I wish I had words that could magically charm, cheat, or otherwise divert the enormous grief crushing down on you, but I too, am overwhelmed and utterly consumed by deep rotting pain; wanting only another chance to top off with a can of Gary Smith once again, because I delighted in him so.
We love you sweetheart.
-Mark & Terry-
Last night together with Chris and Louise, we kept vigil at our house as did your cousins in Akron, Tallmadge, Texas, and DC. The essence of our beings were with you in Seattle and our arms ached to hold your treasured wife, your mom and dad, and all your closest family as you took your journey to place we've not been.
We reminisced about Luigi's, the wedding, Smitty and Weeze's visit with you last fall, and about the time you and Chris winged chicken bones across the fence into Aunt Nancy's neighbor's pool! You were ornery little boys and that didn't change. Then at midnight (9 o'clock Pacific), we uncapped a long neck and wished you Godspeed.
Although our prayers were not answered in the way we would choose, we cannot see the big picture on the scroll that reaches from before creation into eternity.
And now, Morissa, much like a ship that sails beyond the horizon, Gary is not gone from us just because we cannot see him. He has gone to a new and better port. And there he will be when we too take that journey and it will seem we never were apart from him.
We all have been incredibly blessed to have him in our lives for 44 years and doubly blessed to be family. His smile and spirit will never be forgotten.
You, too, are a precious member of the Smith clan and always will be.
We love you,
Mary and John
I wish I knew what to say, but my head is spinning with the loss of Jeff and now Gary. I ache for the impact of this loss for everyone.
I'll never forget meeting Gary,(with a sparkle in his eye) when Jeff first moved up to Seattle. what a dynamic personality. We all went to an "Alice and Chains" concert in a local highschool gym. It was a blast and the one thing that stands out in my mind were the constant smiles,laughter and jokes that Jeff and Gary shared. It was quite a sight to behold! It was truly contagious! Gary is such an amazing friend to Jeff and that alone is a blessing. He was always there for Jeff and all of us. How wonderful to have that in our lives. Now they can continue their adventure across the universe and share their love in a huge way. I will miss Gary. I will miss my big brother, Jeff. But I feel them all around and smiling down on us.
Peace to you and Gary's family, Morissa. I will be with you all at the celebration in spirit, as I was the night Gary flew to the heavens.
Love,
Carolee
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